This is great news, courtesy of Gov. Kaine's office yesterday afternoon:
Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced 15 grants totaling $6.2 million dollars awarded by the Virginia Land Conservation Foundation (VLCF), a state land conservation board. Thirty-one applications were received, with grant requests totaling over $24 million. Of the 15 recommended projects, 12 will provide public access and use; nine projects are fully accessible to the public, and three offer limited access.The grants will help add 11,540 acres toward Gov. Kaine?s goal of preserving 400,000 acres by 2010. As of May 31, 2007, approximately 155,000 acres have been conserved.
Will Tim Kaine be known as the "Teddy Roosevelt conservationist" of Virginia? Well, since TR was the greatest President ever in that regards, Gov. Kaine has a ways to go, but he's on the right track. In addition to land, I'd urge Gov. Kaine to make sure that our coasts are preserved from oil and gas drilling. In addition, I'd urge the Governor to make Virginia a "Cool Commonwealth," just as Fairfax County has signed on to become a "Cool County." Top priorities: a robust Renewable Portfolio Standard and a crash program on energy efficiency in all areas (power generation, heating and cooling, roofing, etc.).
P.S. The Roanoke Times reports on three sites in SWVA - Sweet Spring Hollow, Bullpasture River Gorge, and "[a] historic Pulaski County farm with connections to Mary Draper Ingles" - that will be partly or fully preserved thanks to Gov. Kaine.